Similipal forest guard death: 2 poachers including key accused held from Jharkhand

This takes the total number of arrests to seven after five others were nabbed last week.

Kasturi Swain Published On : May 30, 2023 at 5:35 PM Updated On : May 30, 2023 at 5:36 PM

Bhubaneswar: Continuing the crackdown on suspects allegedly involved in the murder of an on-duty forest guard in Similipal Tiger Reserve in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha, a joint team of police and Forest department officials claimed to have arrested two more persons including the prime accused from Musabani in East Singhbum district of Jharkhand today. The key accused Krushna Singh along with Gobardhan Singh were held along with nine country guns, arrows and other incriminating items.

This takes the total number of arrests to seven after five others were nabbed last week. Three days back, three poachers including a former sarpanch were arrested in this connection. The trio had been identified as former sarpanch Buddhadeb Singh along with two other poachers Sukalal Marndi and Dugul Singh. As per reports, ten country guns and other arms were seized from their possession during the raid. Prior to that, Mayurbhanj police and forest officials had nabbed two other accused.

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“Initially, 10 suspects were identified. But after detailed investigation, 26 suspects were identified of which seven have been held. Three of them were arrested on May 26 and 2 others were held on May 28. With help from Jharkhand police, we were able to arrest wo others including key accused Krushna Singh from Musabani jungle in the neighbouring state. Further investigation is underway and efforts are on to nab the rest of the 19 accused whose names are their in our list,” said Balasore SP Sagarika Nath who is also in charge of Mayurbhanj district.

Last week, Bimal Kumar Jena, a 35-year-old forest guard posted in the Baunsakhal beat of the Nawna range of Similipal tiger reserve was shot dead by a group of poachers. Jena was on patrolling duty in the bordering areas of the reserve when he reportedly intercepted a group of poachers carrying a barking deer alive. When the guards tried to nab them, the poachers opened fire and a bullet hit Jena in the chest killing him on the spot.

Jena is survived by wife Lipina Swain, a forest guard in Pithabata range and a six-year-old daughter